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1,568,789 5 R. WILLIAMS WASHING ARPARATUS Jan. 5 1926.

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 16, 1925 gwoe'ntoz Jan. 5 1926.

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Jan. 5 1926.

E. R. WILLIAMS WASHING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 16,1925

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. 1,568,, E. R. WILLIAMS WASHING APPARATUS Filed June 16, 1925 IIII 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 7 Egmz amnion Zia/11a Patented Jan. 5, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT. A OFFICE.

ELMER R. WILLIAMS, OF SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOB OF THBEE-SIXTEENTHS 'IO ALBERT E. MORELOCK, THREE-SIXTEENTHS TO STEPHEN 1B. CAMPBELL, BOTH OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, AND TWO-SIXTEENTHS TO GEORGE A. MESSIOK, OF SPRING- FIELD, MISSOURI.

wasnme arraanus.

Application filed time 1a, 1925. Serial m. 37,491.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELMER R. WILLIAMS, a citizen oi. the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Greene and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Washing Apparatus, of which. the following is a 'specification, reference being had to the accomniing drawings. T is invention relates to washing apparatus and more particularly to a washing apparatus for use in the treatment of finely amted' surfaces such as the bodies of veiicles. i An important object of the invention is to provide means for delivering to a nozzle, a mixture of cut oil and .warm soapy water for the treatment of the painted surfaceandthe production of a novel and improved mixing and treating apparatus for these substances. V

A further object of the invention is to provide in combination with a device of this character a heating device for producing a substantially uniform steam pressure for use in heating the soapy water and for providing pressure for the water at the nozzle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mixing device having in combination therewith control elements automatica-lly regulating the amounts of fluid em ployed in washing which are delivered to the nozzle.

A further and more specific object of the an invention is the production of a novel and improved equalizing valve for use in an apparatus of this character.

A still further object oLtheinvention is to provide a novel and im roved control means for the heater employe in the system. These and other objects I attain'by theconstruction shown in the accompanying drawings, whereintor the purpose of 111118- tration 1s shown a preferre embodiment of my invention and wherein Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention; I

Figure 2 is an enlarged detailed sectional 9 view taken through the steam boiler;

Figure 3 is a detailed sectional view through the fluid treating chambers;

Figure 4 is a detailed sectional view through the mixing chamber; v

Figure 5 is a sectional view through the control valve for the boiler;

Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fi ure 5;

igure through the equalizing valve employed;

Figure 8 is a section through the cut-off valve employed for the boiler; and

Figure 9'is a plan view of the burner emplcfi ed.

eferring now more particularly to the drawings, the apparatus includes a source.

of water under pressure, indicated at 10, a steam generator 11, a source of air under pressure, indicated at 12, and an oil storage tank, indicated at 13. Means are provided at 14 for taking water from the .source 10 and mixing soap therewith and for mingling this soapy water with steam from the steam generator'so as to produce finely heated soapy water. Means are also provided at 7 is a similar sectional view 15 for mingling oil from the-storage tank 13, air from the source 12 and cutt ng the .oil by means of chemicals. In combination with the mixers 14 and 15, a mixing chamber 16 is provided to which the products of the mixing chamber 14 and 15 are led and from which the mixture produced is delivered to a nozzle 17. The source of water 10 may be the usual city main. The source of air is preferably supplied from an automatical y controlled compressor 18.

. ,The steam generator 11 includes an outer wall 19 having arranged interiorly thereof.

a burner chamber 20 provided with a flue 21 directed upwardly and extending through the top 22 of the generator. Above theburner chamber and surrounding the flue between the walls 19 is a partition 23 forming in the .upper end of the generator a steam chamber 24. In the lower end of the burner chamber is located a turbine rotated oil burner 25 of any preferred-type. Lo-

cated within the burner'chamber and substantially filling the same is a vertical water tube boiler 26 which is directly subjected to the action of the heater 25. The upper end of this boiler has a dome 27, the upper end of which is in communication with thenpper end of the steam chamber by a pipe 28.

With the lower end of the water chamber 29 formed between the heating chamber and the lower wall and at the lower end of this chamber, a water intake 30 connects. An

6 automatic injector 31 is provided having its steam connection 32 leading from the cham-' ,ber 24 and its water connection 33 leading from the upper end of the water chamber 29. The outlet 34 of the automatic injector communicates with the lower end of the boiler '26. This boiler may be provided with the usual soft plug 35 and blow-off drain 36.

Acontrolvalve 37 is provided for simultaneously controlling the supply, of fluid 1 pressure to the turbine of the oil burner and fuel to this burner. This-control valve comprises a casing formed in two sections 38 and 39, the lower section being formedwith two chambers 40 and 41 opening- 20 through one side of the section. Each chamber 40 and 41 is provided with a valve seat, the valve-seat 42 of the chamber 40 facing toward the open side of the chamber'while the valve seat 43 of the chamber 41 faces away from the'open side of this chamber. The chambers and 41 are provided with ports, indicated at 44 and 45, and the valve seats thereof communicate with other ports 46 and 47. i

30 The open sides of the chambers 40 and 41 are closed by a diaphragm 48 held in posi-' tion by"'securing elements 49 attaching the sections 38 and 39 to one another. Valves 50 and 51 coacting with the seats 42 and 43 35 have their stems directed through this diaphragm and are provided upon the upper surface of the diaphragm .with heads 52 and 53, these heads being slotted with aligning slots 54, 55 receiving the ends'of a lever 40 56 pivoted against the inner face of the wall of the section. 38, as at 57. Beneath the dia-' phragm 48, a spring 58 surrounds the stem of the valve 51 and serves to urge this valve to closed position. "In alignment with the ,head 54 of the valve 50, the section 38 has a tubular boss59 within which is arranged a spring seat 60 having engaged therewith one end of a spring 61, the opposite end of which engages the valve head. Threaded 5 through the upper end of this boss is an adjusting screw 62 which engages the upper face of the spring seat 60 and which may be employed to regulate the tension applied by the spring to the diaphragm. From the 55 port 46 to this valve, a conduit 63 is led ato the turbine element of the burner while from the port 47, a conduit/64 forming a fuel supply for the burner is connected.

From the steam chamber 24, a conduit 65 is led, a branch 66 of which communicates 'with one side of a" control valve 67. This control valve .is interiorly divided by a diaphragm 68 to provide chambers69 and 70 .of which the branchpipe 66 of the steam lin'e communicates with the chamber 69.-

, the container.

The chamber 70 has an inlet 71 and an outlet 72, communication between which is controlled by a valve 73 attached to the diaphragm 68 to be operated thereby. A spring 74 within the chamber 69 tends to flex the diaphragm and seat the valve 73, cutting off this communication. The inlet 71 is in com- .munication with the source of water under "pressure through a pipe 75 while the outlet 72 is connected with the port 44 of the valve 37 by a conduit 76 having arranged therein a globe valve 77. Between the globe valve 77 and the valve'37, the conduit 76 is in communication with the source of water pressure 10 through a by-pass conduit 78 having arranged therein a valve 79. With the conduit 76 between the globe valve 77 and control valve 37, a pressure gauge communicates.

Assuming that it is normally desired to operate the burner with a water pressure of twenty pounds, that the pressure from the source 10 is fifty pounds and a steam pressure of forty pounds is desired, the spring 74 is given a tension of ten pounds. The fifty pound pressure will, of course, be present above the valves 77 and 79 and the valve 79 is opened until the gauge 80 shows five pounds of pressure. then opened until the gauge 80 reads twenty pounds which is the actual pressure fed to the valve 37 through the port 44. This pressure will raise the diaphragm, unseating the valve 50 and through the lever 56, unseating the valve 51. The port 45 be ing in communication with the source .of oil 13 through a conduit.81, this permits oil to The .valve 77 is ueing 7 pass to the burner and water to pass to the turbine of the burner, throwing the burner Into operation. If the steam pressure in the chamber 24 at any time exceeds forty pounds, the valve'73 will be closed, reduci'ng-the pressure to the valve 87 to five pounds'and the spring 61 will accordingly partially close the valves 50 and- 51, cutting down the speed ofthe turbine and the flow of oil to; the burner ,so that only a pilot thus made automatic to maintain a substantially constant steam'pressure.

Each mixer 14 and 15 comprises a cylindrical container 82 having adjacent its lower end a partition 83 dividing the mixer into a mixing chamber 84 and a storage chamber 85. The partition has a central opening 86 and from thispartition about the sides of "B the opening, a verticalcircular partition 87 extends upwardly and through the top 88 of able cap 89 which is suitably gasketed, as indicated at 90, and is held in position. by

flame is provided at the burner. Since the This partition forms a conduit; the top of which is closed by a removbrackets 91 carried by the top of the container. Each container has opening through the bottom wall thereof into the compartment 84 inlets 92 and 93, the inlet 92 bein centrally arranged and having a capped inner end 94, the communication of this inlet with the compartment 8 1 being by means of openings 95. Communicating with the upper end of the storage compartment is an inlet 96 and with the lower end thereof an outlet 97 communicates. Each storage chamber is provided with a sight glass 88. Each inlet 96 for the storage chamber is provided cxteriorly of the storage chamber with a three way valve 99 adapted to place the interior-of the storage coi'npartment in communication with the atmosphere or with a conduit 100. The conduit formed by the partition 87has openings 101 placing this conduit in communication with the storage chamber at the upper end.

, In-using the water treating tank 14, the cap 89 is removed and a bar of sea 102 inserted through the conduit 8 so that its lower end rests upon the capped upper end of the inlet 94. The inlet 94 is connected with the supply of water under pressure by a conduit 103 having a valve 104 therein, the steam line 65 is placed in communication with the inlet 93 through a check valve 105 opening into the container and the conduit 100 is likewise placed in communication with the conduit 65. The control valve 106 of the steam line is open and the valve 104 is likewise open and valve. 99 is positioned to connect the upper end of the storage chamber with the atmosphere. Water and steam now enter the chamber 84 and acting against the soap, the water is both heated and saponified and finallv passed to the chamber 85 until this chamber is filled when the valve 104 is closed and the valve 99 positioned to connect the upper end of the storage chamber to the steam line 65 through the conduit 100.

In the use of the oil treating tank 15, an equalizer valve 107 is employed, which valve exactly islike the control valve 37 with the exception of the fact that the positions of the valve seats are reversed so that these valves close so that the valves 108, 109 close as the diaphragm 110 moves upwardly against the action of the adjustable spring 111 and it further differs in the fagt that the controllingpressure is admitted he- Q neath the valve 108, as generally desi nated at 112, and is released at 113. The uid to be controlled is, of course, passed through the smaller and of the valve of the equalizer and is controlled b the valve 109,

The inlet of this smaller end, whi h is generally designatedat 114, is connected between the oil storage tank and the inlet 95 of the oil mixing device, while the outlet conduitllti from the air storage tank is connected to the large end 116 at the inlet 117 thereof, the outlet of this large end being connected to the inlet 93 ot' the oil treating tank. The conduit 100 of the oil treating tank is placed in communication with the air conduit 115. Above the point of communication of the conduit 100 with the conduit 115, a valve 118 is placed in the air conduit so that the air pressure may becompletely cut off from the tank at any time.

In the use of this oil tank, the cap is re-' moved and a suitable chemical for emulsifying the oil such as sal soda is placed in the chamber 84. The air is then turned on the large end of the valve 116 and the valve of the conduit from the oil storage tank 13 opened. This air pressure, so long as'it 1S insuflicient to overcome the action of the spring 111 of the valve, will pass through tie large end of the valve to the tank and at the same time, the valve 109 will be opened, permitting oil to pass to the tank so that this air and oil are mixed within the tank and the oil is brought into intermittent contact with the chemical with theresult that it is emulsified and intermingled with the air. It is understood, of course, that at this time the valve 99 has placed the upper end of the storage compartment of the oil treating tank in communication with the atmosphere so that the treated oil intermingled with the air passes to' this storage tank. When the storage tank is properly filled, the valve 99 is placed in a position where air is admitted to the upper end of the storage tank.

The mixing unit comprises an outer cylindrical chamber 119 having an inlet 120 at its upper end and diametrically opposed inlets 121 and 122 adjacent its lower end. In

128 communicate through suitable conduits with the valve nozzle 17 hereinbetore de-' scribed. Fitting the interior of the inlet neck 130 of the outlet neck is a tube 131 which extends upwardly within the chamber 119 to a point adjacent the top thereof. Fitted into the vertically extending inletor the chamber, 125 is a conduit 132 which we tends upwardly through the tube 131 and through the inlet-opening 120 at'thcnp'per packed to the chamber, as at 133. u

Above the chamber, the conduit 132 00111 inunicates with a coupling 134: and between this coupling and the upper end of the i end of the chamber 119 at which point it is chamber, it is provided with a valve 135. The coupling 134 has connection with the outlets of the large ends 116 of a air of equalizers 37 and 37", identical lvlthk the 5 valve 37, the outlets of the smaller ends connection including a valve 141.

114 of which are connected by conduits 136 and 137 with the inlets 121, 122 at the lower end of the chamber 119. The inlet of the large end 116 of the valve 37 is directly 10 connected with the steam conduit 65, as at is similarly connected with the outlet 97 of the oil treating chamber, as indicated at 144, the valve being designated at 145.

In operation, it will, of course, be under-- stood that the pressures derived from the sources of air, water and steam are fixed 'as nearly as possible, in practice being ninety pounds, seventy pounds and sixty pounds respectively. The oil and water having been treated in their separate treating chambers are then introduced to the.

mixing chamber by opening the valves 139, 141, 143 and 145. This permits the treated oil and treated Water from the chambers 85 to pass 'to the smaller ends of the N equalizers 37, 37 associated with the mixing chamber and through these valves to the lowerend of the chamber 119 where they pass upwardly through this chamber and finally downwardly between the tube 131 and conduit 132 to the chamber 128 and so to the nozzle 17. The steam and air meeting at the coupling 134 pass downwardly through the conduit 132 to the chamber 125 and so to the nozzle. During their passage through the conduit 132, any

air which may have become separated from.

the soapy water and oil is aspirated through an opening 146.

It will be obvious that the emulsified oil will readily mingle with the soapy water providing an excellent cleansing mixture and that the oil and water will be applied to the surface to be cleansed by the pressure of the steam and air employed in first heating the water to insure a proper saponification thereof and in emulsifying the oil. By this structure, furthermore, a heating of the mixgire is provided which serves to render the mixture ready of accomplishment and finally the air acts to cool the mixture to the proper temperature so that it is not applied in such a state that it will in any way injure. the surface. In operating the apparatus to effect this control, the valve 17 being open, thethumb screw on the equalizer 37 is screwed in until the steam and soa y water emerges from the nozzle hot. T e thumb screw on'the equalizer 37 is then screwed in 'until the temperature required is provided. If there is then too much oil in the solution, the amount of oil provided may be reduced by \tightening the thumb and modification without materially departing from the spirit of my invention, I do not limit myself to such specific structure except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim 1. In apparatus for producing a mixture of oil and saponified water for treating finely painted surfaces, means for heating and saponifying water, means for emulsifying oil, each of said means including a liquid treating chamber adapted to contain the element with which the liquid is to be treated,

means for delivering the liquid to the chamber, means for likewise delivering a fluid under pressure to the chamber for agitating the liquid in the presence of the substance with which it is 'to be treated, means for controlling the withdrawal of liquid from the chamber regulated by the pressure of said fluid and a mixing chamber receiving the treated liqiiids from the last named means and intimately mingling the same;-

2. In apparatus for producing a mixture of oil and saponified water for'treating fine- -ly painted surfaces,'means for heating and saponifying water, means for emulsifying oil, each of said means including a liquid treating chamber adapted to contain the element with which the liquid is to be treated, means for delivering the liquid to the chamber, means for likewise delivering a fluid under pressure to the chamber for agitatingthe liquid in the'presence of the substance with which it is to be treated, means for controlling the withdrawal of fluid from the chamber regulated by the pressure of said fluid, a mixing chamber receiving the.

treated liquids from thelast named means and intimately mingling the same, includc ing'an equalizer having a passage for the liquid, a passage for the fluid, valves control-" ing said passages and'a connection between said valves whereby the valves are simully painted surfaces, means for heating and sa omfylng water, means for emulsifyin o1 eac of said means ncluding a l1qu1 treating chamber adapted to contain. the

means for controlling the withdrawal of.

liquid from the chamber regulated by the pressure of said fluid, a mixing chamber receiving the treated liquids igrom the last named means and intimately mingling the same, including an equalizer having a passage for the liquid,:a passage for the fluid, valves controlling said passages, a connection between said valves whereby the valves are simultaneously operated and means for preventing closing of the valve until the fluid attains a predetermined pressure.

4. In apparatus for producing a mixture of oil and saponified water for treating finely painted surfaces, means for heating and saponifying water, means for emulsifying oil, each of said means including a liquid treating chamber adapted to contain the e1e-' ment with which the liquid is to he treated, means for delivering the liquid to the chamber, means for likewise delivering a fluid under pressure to the chamber for agitating the liquid in the presence of the substance with which it is to be treated, means for controlling the withdrawal of liquid from the chamber regulated by the pressure of said fluid and a mixing chamber receiving the treated liquids from the last named means and intimate] mingling the same, the fluid delivered to the water treating chamber being steam whereby to heat the water during agitation to promote saponification thereof.

5. In apparatus for producing a mixture of oil andsaponified water. for treating fine- 1y painted surfaces, means for heatin and salponifving water, means for emulsifying oi, each of said means including a liquid treating chamber adapted to contain the element with which the liquid is to be treated,

means for delivering the liquid to the chamber, means for likewise delivering a fluid under pressure to the chamber for agitating the liquid in the presence of the substance with which it is to be treated and a mixing chamber receiving the treated liquids from the last'named means and intimately mingling the same.

6. In ap aratus for producin a mixture of oil and saponified water 'orjtreating finely. painted-surfaces, means for heating andsaponifying water, means for emulsifyj ing oil, each of said means includin a liquid ment with which the treating chamber ada ted to contain the eleliquid is to be treated,

" means for delivering the liquid to the chemof oil an ber means for likewise delivering a fluid under pressure to the chamber for a itating the liquid in the presence of the su stance with which it is to be treated, a mixing chamber receiving the treated liquids from the last named means and intimately mingling-the same, including an equalizer having a passage for the li uid, a passage for the fluid, valves control ing said passages and a connection between said valves whereby the valves are simultaneously operated.

7. In apparatus for producing a paint treating mixture, a liquid treating chamber adapted to contain the element with which the liquid is to be treated, meansfor delivering the liquid to the chamber, means for likewise delivering a fluid under pressure to the ch 'mber for agitating liquid in the presence 0 the substance with which it is to be treated, means for controlling the withdrawal of treated liquid from the chamber regulated by the pressure of said fluid, in-

eluding an equalizer having a passage for the liquid, a passage for the fluid, valves controlling said passages, a connection between said valves whereby the valves are simultaneously operated and means for preventin closing of'the valves until the fluid attains a predetermined pressure.

8.' In apparatus for producing a mixture of oil and Saponified water for treating finely painted surfaces, means for heating and saponif ing water, means for emulsifying oi, sac of said means including a liquid treat-ing chamber adapted to contain the element with'which the liquid is to be treated, means for delivering the liquid to' the chamber, means for likewise delivering a fluid under pressure to the chamber for agitating the liquid in the presence "of the substance with which it is to be treated, means for. controlling the withdrawal. of liquid from the chamber re ulated by the pressure thereof, the fluid of the oil treating chamber being air and acting to cool the temperature of the mixture.

9. Invap aratus for producing a mixture saponified water for treating finely. painted surfaces, means for heating and saponifying water, means for emulsifying. oil, each of said means including a. liquid treating chamber adapted to contain the element with which the liquid is to be treated, means for delivering the liquid to the chamber, means for likewise delivering a fluid under pressure to the chamber for agitating the liquid in the presence of the substance with which it is to be treated and a mixing chamber receiving the treated liquids from the last named means and intimate mingllng the same and means receiving said .fluids and intimately mixing the same and means for delivering the mixed fluids to a common nozzle.

10. In apparatus for producing a mixture of oil and saponified water for treating finely painted surfaces, means for heating and saponit'ying Water, means for emulsifying 011, each of said means includinga liquid treating chamber adapted to contain the element with which the liquid is to be treated, means for delivering the liquid to the chamber, means for likewise delivering a fluid under pressure to the chamber foragitating the liquid in the presence of the substance with which it is to be treated, means for controlling the withdrawal of liquid from, the chamber regulated by the pressure ,of said fluid, a mixingchamber receiving the treated liquids from the last named means and intimately mingling the same and likewise receiving the fluids and intimately mingling the same and means for delivering the liquids and fluids to a common nozzle.

11. In apparatus for producing a mixture of oil and saponified water for treating finely painted surfaces, means for heating and saponifying water, means for emulsifying oil, each of said means including a liquid treatingchamber adapted to contain the element with which the liquid is to be treated, means for delivering the liquid to the chamber, means for likewise delivering a fluid under pressure to the chamber for agitating the liquid in the presence of the substance with which it is to betreated, means for controllin the Withdrawal of fluid from the cham er re lated by the pressure of said fluid, a mixlng chamber. re-

ceiving the treated liquids from the last named means and intimately mingling the same including an equalizer havin a passage for the liquid, a passage for t e fluid, valves controlling said passages, a connection between said valves whereby the valves are simultaneously operated 'and means normally maintaining the valves in open position yielding to permit closing of the valves when the pressure of the fluid exceeds a predetermined pressure.

12. A fluid treating 'device for apparatus of the character described comprising a container divided'by a horizontal partltion to form upper and lower chambers, the partition having an opening, a vertical partition surrounding the opening and carried by the horizontal partition and extending upwardly through the upper chamber and the top of the container, a cap'for the upperendof the vertical partition, said vertlcal partition having openin s leading to the upper chamber, a pair of in ets for the lower cham'- her and an outlet for the upper chamber. In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

ELMER R. WILLIAMS. 

